Gas producer



Dec. 6, 1932. J. s. HAUG GAS PRODUCER Filed May 21, 1928 J. s. HAUG GAS PRODUCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1928 /A/VE//ro/r ff @s "1%. Afro/ewan Patented Dec. 6, 1932 NETE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN S. HAUG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE U. G. I. CON- TRACTENG COMPANY, OF PHLADELPHIA, ENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE GAS PRODUCER Application filed May 21,

'Ehe present invention relates to gas generat rs in which there are provisions to secure a distribution of the fuel fed to the top of the fuel bed in such a manner as to deposit the finer fuel at the periphery and the coarser fuel in the center and which generator is equipped with a grate having means for the distribution of air and steam and also means for continuous ash removal.

One object of the present invention is to provide means for the distribution of air and steam along with means for continuous ash removal which are better adapted to the method of fuel distribution above referred to than are present in any producer or generator or, more accurately, in any producer' or generator grate of which l am aware.

T he position and shape of the combustion Zone at any point in the fuel bed of a gas producer or generator depends on the ratio of the rate of combustion to the rate of ash removal at that point. If the combustion rate is uniform and if the ash is removed uniformlv as fast as formed in all parts of the fuel bed, the combustion Zone will be stationary. if in any part of the fire, the combustion proceeds at a higher rate than the corresponding ash removal, the combustion zone rises at that point tending to produce blow holes.

i-r gas generator or gas producer of the type recited is able to gasify a low grade of fuel containing a. high percentage of fines due to the distribution of the fines to the periphery of the fuel bed and the coarser fuel to the center, thereby ccunteracting the inherent tendency to produce a. high combustion rate at the periphery or sides and a low rate in the center. However, undue activity of combustion is promoted in the center of the fuel bed, with grates known to me.

ln the present invention air is admitted to an annular ring of fuel at the bottom of the bed, and this annular ring extends inward from points relatively close to the periphery. A substantial section or part of the fuel bed in the center has no air admitted to it directly, but due to the porosity of the fuel in the center a sufcient amount of air traverses the center of the fuel bed to secure the desired 1928. Serial N0. 279,569.

rate of combustion there, and in the present invention there is provided improved ash ei;- traction means in the central section where the air is not admitted directly, and this increased extraction at the center assists in lowering the combustion Zone in the center with the avoidance of blow holes, and it also gives a more effective fire depth and secures more efficient gasification of the fuel, all in respect to gas generators and grates therefor with which I am familiar.

In the present invention the central area of the grate is flattened causing a better distribution of the blast by opposing the formation of a porous path at the juncture of the ash line with the grate which path if formed would allow almost as much air to find its way to the center of the fire as would be the case if air blast were introduced at the center of the grate, and the flattened portion of the grate is provided with ash eX- traction means.

The invention also comprises the improvements to be presently described and finally claimed and in the following description reference willlbe made to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view, principally in central and vertical section, of a gas generator or producer embodying features of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts omitted and illustrating a modification.

Referring more particularly to Fig. l the gas producer shell l is shown as provided with a refractory lining 2. A rim feed charging mechanism happens to be selected from other mechanisms adapted to produce the described distribution of finer particles at the periphery of the fuel bed as indica-ted at a and coarser particles at the center as indicated at b. The rim feed mechanism is shown at 3 and it includes' a charging hopper 4 about the periphery of ythe lproducer top and feeding fuel to the entire periphery of the fuel bed. The opening, through which the rim feed mechanism 3 and charge hopper 4- feed, is normally closed at the upper end of the hopper (not shown). The top of the fuel bed is indicated at c. The producer is provided at its top with a gas offtake conduit 66 and may be providedadjacent its top with a depending flange or wall 77. The lower part of the gas producer is provided with a water jacket having a bare metallic inner wall 55. As far as has been described there is nothing new in and of itself. The eccentric grate is generally indicated at 6 and it is of the mechanical variety. As shown the gran consists of a cylinder 7 surmounted by a truncated stepped cone which is pro-` vided with ports 8 arranged to form anV inlet portion generally annular in outline. There is nothing novel in and of itself 'about the grate so far as described.

Above the truncated cone thereisprovided a flattened top 9vwhich is equipped with curved cutting blades 10. The fiattened top is imperforate, or otherwise stated, hasno ports. i

T he grate is rotated by the worm and worm wheel mechanism 11. 12 is' the ash pan and 13 is a plow. 14 indicates means for sealing the grate such as a water seal.

Air or mixed air and steam admitted to the interior of the grate through the conduit 15 flows info the fuel bed through the ports 8 and is delivered directly to an annular ring of the fuel bed extending fromV the periphery inward and comprising the finer particles. No making fluid, air or mixed air and steam, passes through the top .of the grate but due to the greater porosity of the fuel bed in the center suflicient air finds its way up through that section, as indicated by the arrows, thus the height of the' combustion Zone and also of the reduction Zone in 'the center of the fuel hed is maintained comparatively near the grate or at a low level. This is further aided by the blades 10 which increase the rate of ash removal from the center of the fire and help to equalize the rate combustion and the'rate of ash extraction across kthe entire fuel bed and the combustion zone in the center is quite close to the grate, giving an edective fuel beddepth and avoidthe formation of blow holes. The activity at the out-er annulus of the fuel bed is insured and there is a consequent reduction in t-he quantity of unhurnt fuel escaping from this portion. Y

At the rim part of the bottomk of the' fuel bed, ash passes through the space 17 provided between the part 7 of the grate and the sealing member 14.

The construction and mode of operation of the modifica-tion shown in Fig. 2 are as above described except that the grate 18 is of a cylindrical form and itis surmounted by a low cone, constituting the imperforate top, and carrying the cutting blades. The ports are indicated at 16 and are located in the 'cylindrical portion of the grate forming an inlet portion therein which is` annular in its general outline.

A Itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art to which Vthe invention relates that modications may be made in details of construction and arrangement andinatters of mere form without departing from the spirit of the invention which is `not limited to such matters or otherwise than the prior art and the appended claims may require.

I claim: 1

1. In a gas producer having a stationary cylindrical lower portion including a water jacket having a bare inner metallic wall; a grate structure having a cylindricall portion spaced from the wall of said producer to leave an annular space therebetween forming an ash outlet, said grate structure, including a. conical portion supported by the lower cylindrical portion, said conical portion having ports for Vgas making fluids opposite thewater jacket, and a flattened solid top portion having curved cutting ribs thereon, and means for introducing gas making fluids beneath the grate structure and to the ports.

2. In a gas producer having a fuel bed therein and having a stationary cylindrical lower portion including a water jacket in contact with the fuel-bed; an eccentric grate structure having a lower portion spaced from the wall of saidy producer to leave an annular space vtherebetween forming an ash outlet, an annular inlet portion in said grate structure having ports therein through which gas making fluids pass, a solid top portion supported by said-lower portion and by said inlet portion, upstanding cutting ribs on said top portion, and means for introducing gas making fluids beneath the grate structure and to said ports.

VJOI-IN S. vHAUG.

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